Ethics questions, personal attacks, and a dramatic self-removal dominate heated City Council meeting.
Last night’s City Council meeting took an unexpected turn when Councilwoman Carolyn Shireman removed herself from all committees following a heated public outburst. The dramatic meeting culminated in Shireman being censured after multiple disruptions, an attempt to boycott a local small business, and accusations against a fellow council member.
The controversy began with Shireman’s insistence on boycotting Randy’s Tires and Auto, a business owned by Randy Scheffler. The boycott sparked widespread condemnation from numerous citizens, who viewed the move as a misuse of Shireman’s position. Shireman’s boycott was reportedly fueled by the vocal criticism she has faced during public participation from Scheffler’s wife and daughters. Notably, Randy Scheffler himself has never attended a Council meeting, yet Shireman referred to his family members as “agitators.”
At one point during the meeting, it seemed Shireman might reconsider her stance or issue an apology. Instead, she doubled down, redirecting attention by launching an attack on Councilwoman Vick Dishon. Critics were quick to note that Shireman’s deflection strategy mirrors a pattern frequently employed by Council President Kurt Fankhauser, who has often turned attention away from his own controversies by targeting others. Fankhauser, who has been known to compare himself to former President Donald Trump, has repeatedly likened his leadership style to that of the president-elect.
Shireman revisited old allegations against Dishon, claiming she had opened an investigation with the “state representative” into Dishon’s receipt of emails during her tenure as a clerk for the Law Director. However, it is well-documented that Dishon’s access to the emails was a legitimate part of her job duties. These allegations had previously been amplified by a YouTube video from Council President Kurt Fankhauser, which has since been debunked. Dishon, notably, won a $20,000 settlement years ago after suing the city.
City Council president Kurt Fanhauser’s Youtube video alleging wrongdoing on the part of Council member Dishon during her lawsuit with the City of Bucyrus
As tensions escalated, a motion was made to have Shireman removed from the meeting. The motion failed, receiving only three votes in favor, with both Shireman and Dishon abstaining. Councilwoman Aaron Sharrock then introduced a motion to censure Shireman, which passed.
During the ensuing discussion on parliamentary procedure — specifically, whether censure could lead to Shireman’s removal from committee assignments — Shireman abruptly announced she would remove herself from all committees.
The most striking moment of the evening came when Law Director Brandon Gobrecht interrupted proceedings to address Shireman directly. He asked if she was “lucid,” clarified the meaning of the term after Shireman’s admitted confusion, and then inquired if she was “under the influence,” citing ethical concerns about her behavior.
The Bucyrus City Council meetings — and their increasingly dramatic antics — have drawn attention beyond Bucyrus, with video clips of Council sessions going viral across the state. Many now view the city’s leadership as a “three-ring circus,” with last night’s incident only reinforcing Bucyrus’ growing reputation as a laughingstock in Ohio.
The tension did not end with the adjournment of the meeting. Following the proceedings, Shireman confronted a group of citizens who were speaking amongst themselves. Video taken of the incident shows Shireman making disparaging comments, referring to the group as “fat girls” and sarcastically asking if they needed clothes, adding that she had some “with the tags on.”
The remarks have drawn significant backlash, given Shireman’s own history of undergoing surgery to address morbid obesity. Her comments have been widely criticized as inappropriate and unbecoming of an elected official, further fueling calls for accountability and decorum within the Council.
The incident capped an already contentious evening and raised further questions about the tone and behavior of city leadership moving forward.
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